Saturday, January 17, 2009

On January 17, 2009, the small storefront space at the collectively-run Spartacus Books in Vancouver was packed with people for an info night on the s



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Unrest in Greece: 2nd Info Night in Vancouver (Coast Salish Territory), Canada

Info night with photo slideshow and spoken presentations.

7:00 PM / THURSDAY / FEBRUARY 5 / 2009
RHIZOME CAFÉ / 317 E. BROADWAY

On January 17, 2009, the small storefront space at the collectively-run Spartacus Books in Vancouver was packed with people for an info night on the social unrest in Greece that was sparked by the police murder of 15-year old Alexandros Grigoropoulos in Athens on December 6. A slideshow of photos and a video of a TV station occupation were shown. Presenters took turns reading out statements from various occupied buildings across Greece. A statement from a solidarity demonstration in St. Louis, USA, was also read out and some photos were shown from the riots set off by the police murder of Oscar Grant in Oakland, USA, on January 1. A booklet was distributed containing most of the statements read out and the night ended with a discussion of the social upheaval in Greece, the anarchist movement there and the situation in Vancouver. A second info night on the same theme is to take place at the Rhizome Cafe in Vancouver on February 5, 2009.

Friday, January 16, 2009

“Fuck Greece, fight here!” (Greek Revolt info events in the UK)

A number of info events/ greek prisoner solidarity benefits are organised across the UK. Some will also have people from this blog presenting - if you are organising an event on the Greek events please let us know so that we can add it to the list.

Confirmed dates so far

  • Sunday 18.1 prisoner solidarity benefit gig at the Forest cafe, Edinburgh
  • Thursday 22.1 at the RampART social centre, London
  • Monday 26.1 at the Cowley Club, Brighton
  • Saturday 28.2 at the Common Place, Leeds
  • Saturday 23.5 at the Anarchist Bookfair, Cardiff
  • Bristol dates &venues tbc in Bristol
  • At least one more London date will be added for mid-February, to coincide with the launch of Occupied London #4
http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/01/17/fuck-greece-fight-here-greek-riot-info-events-in-the-uk/

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Arrests

More than 270 people have been arrested in connection to actions, since the beginning of the insurrection, on December 6th, in 15 cities. 67 of them have been detained, while 50 immigrants that were arrested the first 3 days, were rapidly condemned to 18 months of imprisonment and are being deported. 19 arrestees in Larissa face charges under the anti-terrorist law. Countless of people were brought to the police departments but were released with no charges in the end. ( 969401 )

On Saturday 17/01 there will be a nationwide demonstration in Larissa, for solidarity to the arrestees.

One person has been arrested and detained since yesterday in Thessaloniki. He is being accused for explosion (felony) and for organising a gang (minor offence, luckily not connected with the anti-terrorist law), related to the effort for arson for a police department. There was a solidarity demonstration, on Tuesday night, outside the Police Headquarters, where he is kept. He is going in front of the Interrogator and the Public Prosecutor on Thursday noon.



Liberated spaces

The building of the Journalists' Union is still occupied by young people and employees in the media. In solidarity to the revolt of December, they also focus on employment problems, pushing the mainstream media for alternative coverage of the actions, etc. 969449

A municipality cafe on a central street of Zografou district, has been ocupied by antiauthoritarians, in order for it to function as an open space for counter-information, discussion and co-ordination of actions(969647).


Solidarity to Konstantina Kouneva

Employees and workers from 27 first-grade unions, had a sit-in in the office of Evangelismos hospital, where Konstantinta Kouneva is being treated. This hospital is also using cleaning services by subcontracting agencies, similar to the one Konstantina was hired by. (969641)

The Worker Unions' Center in Volos, after having been occupied by activists for 2 days, was released in the morning. It was an action of solidarity to Konstantina Kouneva and the arrestees of the revolt in December (969909).
*Konstantina Kouneva, a woman, immigrant and unionist, was violently attacked with acid on her face, due to her political action against the employers.


Universities and High schools

A lot of general student union meetings have been taking place in Universities all over Greece, 62 faculties are currently occupied, while many of others stay open, due to the support by the communist, the socialdemocrat and the pro-government student parties.

An education-wide demonstration will also take place on Thursday in many Greek cities.

Parents of a high-school in Pireas, protest against the authorities of the schools, who terrorise the students that took part in the school occupation in October, where a lot of students were beaten up and sent to court.

The students of the 3rd High-school of Ilioupolis, Athens, have occupied their school, against the decision of the teachers to move 4 students to another school and not allow another 5 to attend courses, for 5 days (969734), as a punishment. They are also protesting for the surveilance cameras outside their school building.


Workers' struggles

120 people were sacked, last month, from the iron-nickel factory in Larimna.
3 people were fired from a local Athens TV station.
The employees of the water supply company in Thessaloniki are on a strike, staying in the building (despite being terrorized by their employers), making sure that there will be no problem with the water supply. . They are against the privatization of the company. the inner corruption and they ask for more personnel to be hired.


The Higher court decided for the second time against the construction of a mall in Eleonas (970278)


War in Palestine

A demonstration for the war in Palestine is being organised for Saturday 17/1. 969591
Arion, the ship of the Free Gaza movement, that transfers doctors and food towards the Gaza people, is threatened to be stopped by the Israeli authorities(969819). The greek government (970053) and the mainstream media (970281) didn't pay attention to the issue.
Meanwhile, people, student unions and organizations of the left have mobilized for a demonstration on Thursday, in order to prevent transfer of US weapons towards Israel, through the private port of Astakos, on the Aegean Sea (970041)


Mainstream Media reports

Mainstream media published the results of the official police ballistic report on Alexis Grigoropoulos' shooting, stating that the bullet hit a marble ball (functioning as a barrier in the edge of the sidewalk) which was next to Alexis, and then turned towards his body. Commentors (969787) think that this proves that the cop actually fired towards the young persons.

Mainstream media announced that the so-called "terrorist organisation" named "Revolutionary Struggle", (as it had been suspected by the police) issued a communique for the shooting against three police officers in Athens, resulting into the serious injury of one of them.

TWO INFO NIGHTS WITH
PHOTO SLIDESHOW &
SPOKEN PRESENTATIONS


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Unrest in Greece: Info Nights in Vancouver, Canada (Coast Salish Territory)

TWO INFO NIGHTS WITH
PHOTO SLIDESHOW &
SPOKEN PRESENTATIONS

7:00 PM / SATURDAY / JANUARY 17 / 2009
@ SPARTACUS BOOKS / 684 E. HASTINGS

7:00 PM / THURSDAY / FEBRUARY 5 / 2009
@ RHIZOME CAFÉ / 317 E. BROADWAY
The 696 Form compels licensees who wish to hold live music events in 21 London Boroughs to report to the police the names, addresses, aliases and telephone numbers of performers, the likely ethnicity of their audience and music genre. Failure to comply could result in fines or imprisonment (six months in jail or a £20,000 fine)".

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Solidarity/Benefit Gig for those arrested during the recent uprising in Greece - Sunday the 18th @6pm in Forest Cafe, Edinburgh

970180
Solidarity/Benefit Gig for those arrested during the recent uprising in Greece
by alexisedinburgh2008 09:57pm, Wednesday January 14 2009
θεματικές:



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The 6th of December, the day when 15 year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos was shot dead by police without provocation, marked the beginning of a social uprising in Greece. His unlawful killing quickly became a symbol for the peoples disquiet with political corruption and media manipulation and propaganda. Hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets to protest and actively reclaim a better social, political and economic system that is based on humans' basic rights of freedom and wellbeing and not capital or profit.


Since the 6th of December 2008 and until the 14th of January 2009 there have been 273 arrests*:

  • 67 people already in prison awaiting trials.

  • 19 people arrested in Larisa are being prosecuted under new anti-terrorist laws

(*source http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=969401)


In Solidarity to the Greek comrades and their social struggle, a gig is to be held this Saturday. It starts at 6pm in Forest Cafe, Edinburgh. Bands performing include: MOZKORRAK (drunken oi-oi) and BOTTOMFEEDERS ( local mentalists playing ersecore punk noise).

Entry is free, with donations towards legal expenses for those arrested during the Greek uprising

Sunday, January 11, 2009

LES TRAVAILLEURS, NOUS AURONS LE DERNIER MOT…

Les milliers des manifestants qui sont descendus dans les rues de toute la
Grèce le vendredi 09/01 ont prouvé que le feu de décembre n’est pas prêt
de s’éteindre, ni par les balles ni par l’acide lancé par la majorité des
médias tous ces derniers jours. C’est pourquoi la seule réponse de l’Etat
face à la jeuneuse et aux travailleurs se résume, encore une fois, à la
répression. Les MAT (CRS), les mains libres par les ordres des dirigeants
et avec l’incitation des médias pour tolérance zéro, ont lancé des
produits chimiques, accompagnés d’arrestations et des violences contre
quiconque ils croisaient sur leur route.

Quand la répression étatique se retourne (comme le 09/01) même contre des
travailleurs reporteurs, opérateurs, photographes, avocats, qui se
trouvent dans la rue sans prendre la partie des assassins, il devient
encore plus clair que les événements insurrectionnels de ce dernier temps
posent la question de la dignité à chacun et chacune des nous dont la
survie dépend du salaire. Ainsi, quelques-uns parmi nous qui travaillent
dans les média, nous prenons position à côté des combattants. Avec la
participation à la lutte des travailleurs mais aussi avec la lutte dans
nos lieux de travail contre l’opinion du patronat des médias quant aux
événements. Citons comme exemple le licenciement du photographe Kostas
Trironis du journal « Elephteros Typos », parce qu’il a pris en photos des
policiers lever les armes le lendemain de l’assassinat du jeune de 15ans,
Alexandros Grigoropoulos. 


Nous n’avons aucune illusion que les médias, en tant qu’appareillage
idéologique de l’Etat, feront tout ce qu’ils pourront pour que les gens
rentrent à la maison. Nous le savons mieux que tous car nous travaillions
pour eux. Comme nous savons que pour que Mr Pretederis, ou Mr Tragas, et
autres grands journalistes médiatiques, puissent prendre position pour
l’abolition du droit d’asile des universités et la séparation entre les «
cagoulés » et les manifestants « pacifiques », ils ont besoin le silence
quotidien de chacun des nous.

Notre position aux côtés des révoltés résulte aussi de l’exploitation
quotidienne que nous vivons tous les jours dans les lieux de travail. Dans
l’industrie des médias les relations de travail flexibles et précaires
abondent comme le travail non rémunéré, l’absence de sécurité sociale, le
travail payée à la tâche, les heures supplémentaires et les pratiques
arbitraires de la part du patronat. Ce dernier temps, sous prétexte de la
crise financière, les licenciements ont augmenté ainsi que les menaces des
licenciements.

Comme tous les travailleurs, nous vivons, nous aussi, la liquidation et
l’arnaque des chefs syndicalistes. L’ESIEA (Union des Rédacteurs des
Journaux Quotidiens d’Athènes) en tant qu’institution se retourne contre
les luttes des travailleurs, que ça soit la résistance contre le patronat
ou l’urgente nécessité de dépasser les divisions internes dans cette
branche des métiers pour la création un syndicat uni pour la presse. La
corporation d’ESIEA, qui fonctionne d’ailleurs en tant que syndicat de
patronat, est le soutien principal des dirigeants dans leur effort de nous
séparer du reste de la classe des travailleurs. Dernier exemple, c’est la
non participation à la grève générale du mercredi 10/12.

Pour toutes ces raisons, une initiative de travailleurs, de chômeurs, de
travailleurs au noir, de stagiaires et d’étudiants dans le milieu des
médias nous avons décidé d’occuper le bâtiment d’ESIEA pour mettre en
avant tout ce qui nous uni avec la société combattante :


- La contre-information par opposition à la propagande des nos
patrons dans les médias


- L’action de tous les travailleurs dans les médias,
auto-organisés, avec des procédures de démocratie participative, contre
l’attaque que nous recevons.

- SOLIDARITÉ AVEC LA COMBATTANTE TRAVAILLEUSE KONSTANTINA KUNEVA

- LIBERATION IMMEDIATE DE TOUS LES INCULPÉS DE L’INSURECTION

-NOUS N’AVONS PAS PEUR DES LICENCIEMENTS, C’EST LES DIRIGEANTS QUI AURONT
PEUR DES GREVES SAUVAGES

Solidarity Poster for Polykarpos Georgiadis and Vaggelis Chrisohoidis (greece)



POSTER SAYS:
did anyone speak of a
KIDNAPPING?
“…A handful of capitalists
have organized a criminal gang
and have kidnapped the proletarians,
demanding for ransom
their labor force,
merchandising their human activity,
their time (which is turned into money),
their own being itself…”
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
to vaggelis Chrisohoidis and Polykarpos Georgiadis
who the persecuting authorities, exactly because they denied to betray values and people,
accuse them as participators in the kidnapping of industrialist Milonas
anarchists from Serres from north-greece


Anarchists solidarity protest outside Korydallos prison, the main prison in Athens, at the time of the change of the year. This protest happens every New Year's Eve for the past six years. This year more than 400 people took part in the protest that interacted with the prisoners inside through shouting mutual slogans and fireworks. The main slogan was "The passion for freedom is stronger that your prisons".
NEW YEAR OUTSIDE IN KORRIDALOS PRISON 2011
Watch live streaming video from agitprop at livestream.com
FIRE TO ALL PRISONS

A society that punishes/the condition of incarceration/the prison of the mind/the prison as punishment/the rage of the damned will sound on the ruins of prisons/those denying obedience and misery of our era even within its hellholes/will dance together on the ruins of every last prison/with the flame of rebellion avenging whatever creates prisons.

To the prisoners struggle already counting one dead and thousands in hunger strike across greece, we stand in solidarity and anger until the destruction of every last prison.


ARSON AND WILDFIRE FOR EVERY PRISON

SOLIDARITY TO ALL PRISONERS IN GREECE


Keny Arkana - La Rage English Subtitles

1976 - 2000 Greek Anarchists Fight for Freedom

(December Riots in Greece)